Mice and other vermin can be dangerous pests that have no place in your restaurant. Associated with dirt and disease, rodents can leave droppings and urine that make people sick. Don’t risk a code violation or illness outbreak at your restaurant. Instead, be diligent about regular pest control in Phoenix, Arizona and take steps to ensure rodents don’t infiltrate your establishment. If you have signs of rodents, seek the advice of an experienced commercial pest control company.
The Dangers of Rodents
Rats and mice can carry pretty serious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those diseases include:
- Leptospirosis – This is a bacterial disease that can cause high fever, headache, vomiting, jaundice, muscle aches, abdominal pain, red eyes, rash, chills, and diarrhea. Without treatment, leptospirosis can result in meningitis, liver failure, kidney damage and even death.
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) – This rodent-borne viral infection comes with a fever, malaise, lack of appetite, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting. It can result in increased fluid on the brain that requires surgical shunting.
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – Rodents such as deer mice and white-footed mice can spread this disease through direct contact or breathing in dust contaminated with urine or droppings. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, digestive issues, dizziness and chills. Late symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and fluid-filled lungs.
- Plague – This is a bacterial infection that caused 100 million deaths in the Middle Ages, and that’s still around today. Without treatment, body organs can be damaged and death can result.
- Rat-Bite Fever – This is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, vomiting, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, and rash.
- Salmonellosis – This bacterial infection can be caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated by rodent feces. It can spread to the blood stream, with symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.
- Tularemia – This is a life-threatening bacterial infection that can result from improper handling of infected animal carcasses, with symptoms including skin ulcers that introduce bacteria, swollen lymph glands and high fever.
Food Service Health Codes
Food service health codes are created and enforced to protect public health. Rodents that live amongst food pose health and safety threats, with national public safety provisions in place from the FDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recommended measures to keep rodents out of a restaurant include:
- Inspect incoming shipments of food and supplies
- Keep a sanitary establishment and clean it frequently
- Regularly inspect the premises for evidence of rodents and other pests
- Use accepted pest control methods to remove any rodents that are found
- Eliminate conditions that offer a hiding place for rodents
Vigilance on the part of restaurant owners is critical. It takes an ongoing effort to keep a rodent-free establishment. You have to not only establish healthy protocols, you must follow them on a continual basis. Remember: prevention is much less expensive than elimination.
Rodent Control for Restaurants Phoenix, AZ
If you own a restaurant and have noticed pest activity, call our Phoenix exterminators right away. We can rid your establishment of rodents and other pests to keep your customers and employees safe and healthy while avoiding costly health code violations. Get a free quote when you contact us at 602-338-9223.